Tension device for winding and like machines



y 1939- G. N. TAYLOR ET AL 2,160,763

TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed March 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 30, 1939. G. N. TAYLOR ET AL 2,160,763

TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed March 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 ufl flww 3.0 1 3 M W w W W 2566 :M w s 7 illlll l- -1- I--- i lllll fmh 1m L. .1 ml Z I W e J M i .n L .1 7 h 22% m 7 l M W y w a W M n 9 m 4. 5 z, x 9 w y 4 if g W f 4 4 z JV MW M 5 0 a 9 0 May 30, 1939. G. N. TAYLOR ET AL 2,160,763

TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed March 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fig 6047 2 m +M Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING AND LIKE MACHINES Application March 25, 1937, Serial No. 139,696

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tension-devices for tensionlng yarn, thread and other strand materials in winding or transferring the same from a source of supply.

In the following specification and claims the term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all forms of strand material, whether textile or otherwise, and the designation package is intended to indicate the product of the winding machine whatever its form.

One object of the invention is to provide a tension-device having opposed members with fingers or bars for applying resistance to the draft on the strand as it feeds therebetween and means for positively maintaining the members in paral lel relationship during lateral movement toward 1 or away from each other whereby to apply uniform tension on the strand drawing between the members.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a winding machine a tension-device of the type indicated with means controlled by the growth in the winding to reduce the applied tension on the yarn as its lineal speed increases whereby to maintain the ultimate tension at the package uniform throughout the winding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension-device of the type indicated which is of simple construction, positive in action and proof against derangement or getting out of order.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment oi the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional type of winding machine illustrating the present improved tension-device as applied to use therewith; the parts of the machine and tension-device being shown in posltion at the commencement of the winding operation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the tension-device and differential controlling means therefor showing the parts in their relationship at a later stage during the progress of the winding;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same shown with its parts in the same relationship as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tension-device, part sectional online 55 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the means for maintaining the tension-fingers in parallel relationship as they are moved apart during the growth of the winding;

Fig. dis a partial sectional view through the fingers of the tension-members taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and showing the manner in which they act on the yarn to apply the maximum degree of tension at the start of the winding;

Fig. 7 is a similar partial sectional view taken on line l-'| of Fig. 5 showing the tension-fingers in more open position to apply less tension on 10 r the yarn at a later stage in the winding operation; and

Fig. 8 is a part sectional plan view of the ten- I sion-device illustrating the, manner in which the movable tension-member is moved away from the fixed member to permit the strand to be placed between the tension-fingers in running position.

Fingeror grid-tensions employed for applying tension to strand material are usually provided with a fixed or stationary member and a movable tension-member pivoted with respect to the stationary tension-member and adapted to be swung away therefrom as the lineal speed 01' the strand increases during the growth of the winding to lessen the pressure and reduce the tension on the running strand. When the movable member is pivoted on an axis extending parallel to the path of the yarn the swinging movement of the member causes its tension-fingers to be disposed at an angle to the opposed fingers of the stationary member. That is to say, the ends of the fingers remote from the pivotal axis of the movable member are separated a greater distance from the fingers of the stationary memher than the ends nearest the pivot and as a. result, when the yarn is slid longitudinally of the fingers during its traverse by the reciprocating thread-guide or other yarn-traversing means the degree of applied tension will fluctuate intermittently. In another form of construction the movable tension-member is pivoted on an axis extending at right-angles to the path of the yarn so that as it swings on this axis its tensionfingers are spaced farther apart from the stationary fingers at the point of entrance of the yarn than at the opposite or delivery endand this also causes uneven tensioning on the strand during its travel through the device.

It is the aim of the present invention to overcome these defects and deficiencies of previouslyused devices by providing an'improved tensiondevice in which the tension-members may be separated or moved one relatively of the other in such a manner that the tension-fingers remain parallel in opposite planes. The improved tension-device comprises, in general, a fixed tensionmember, a supporting member hinged or pivoted with respect to the fixed member, a movable tension-member pivoted on the supporting member and movable therewith, means actuated by the growth'in the winding for swinging the supporting member and movable tension-member on their respective pivots, and means for maintaining the movable tension-member in parallel relation to the fixed tension-member during its movement with its supporting member.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the improved tension-device is 11- lustrated in Fig. las applied to use on a machine for winding thread, yarn and other textile materials into cops, cones, cheeses and other forms of packages. It is to be understood,.however, that the present invention is applicable to use with other types of textile machines for applying tension to various kinds of materials. Y

The winding machine illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a main frame 2 provided with bearings for a rotatable winding-spindle 3 for supporting a suitable cop-tube C on which the package is wound. The yarn is traversed longitudinally of the winding-spindle 3 by means of a reciprocating thread-guide 4 which is carried by a horizontal traverse-bar or rod 5 mounted to slide in a track or guideway in a swinging traverse-frame 6. The guide 4 may be reciprocated from a helical cam, not herein shown, and the traverse-frame 6 is pivotally mounted on the cam-shaft l to swing about the axis of the cam to adapt the guide to recede from the wlnding-spindle 3 as the cop or package is built up thereon. Suitable instrumentalities are provided for manually starting the operation of the machine and for automatically arresting its operation when the strand breaks or its supply becomes exhausted, these devices being indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings but not herein described as they form no part of the present invention.

The thread-guide 4 is normally maintained in contact with the surface on which the winding is being performed by means of a counterbalance comprising a weight 8 fastened to the traverseframe 3 below its pivot on the cam-shaft l. The force of the weight 8 acts to resist the movement of the thread-guide 4 outwardly from the winding-spindle 3 during the growth in diameter of the package being wound and this resistance may be augmented through the use of a diilerential pressure-device as next described. As shown in Figs. 1 and'2, a lever I0, pivoted at H to a stationary part of the machine is connected by a rod or link l2 to a member l3 fastened to the counterweight 8 of the traverse-frame 6. The lever l0 supports a weight l5 adjustable longitudinally thereof, and as the counterweight 8 swings away from the pivot H of the lever the weight is swung upwardly in an arc to diminish its active pressure tending to resist movement of the thread-guide away from the windingspindle. The arrangement of the differential pressure-means is herein shown and described in detail since it provides means for also varying the amount of tension applied to the strand as will be later explained.

The tension-device of the present invention may be mounted in any suitable relationship with respect to the winding mechanism and, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, it is carried on a bracket I! supported from an arm l8 which is fastened to the side of the machine frame 2 by means of screws l9. The tension-bracket I! comprises a vertical bar or upright 20 having outwardly-projecting ears or lugs 2| at its upper and lower ends. The lugs 2| form supports for a vertical rod 22, the upper end of which is held in place by a nut 23, while its lower end is bent into an elbow-shaped arm 24 seated in a notch or recess 25 in a projection 26 on the under side of the lug 2| whereby to hold the rod from turning.- The arm 24 is extended downwardly and then forwardly in a horizontal portion 21 formed into a helical loop or pigtail at 28 which'serves as a guide for directing the strand of yarn into the tension-device.

Mounted on the upper lug 2| of the bracket I1 is a slub-catcher or yarn-cleaner, indicated generally at 30, through which the yarn draws as it leads to the thread-guide 4 to be fed to the package being wound. The slub-catcher 30 may be of any suitable construction, being herein illustrated as of the same type as that shown and described in United States Letters Patent to E. F. Parks, No. 1,926,497, dated September 12, 1933.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated the tension-device comprises two opposite tension-plates or members 39 and 40 which are of the type known as finger" or grid" tensions. The plates or members 39 and 40 are formed with parallel tines or fingers 4| and 42, respectively, adapted to be disposed in alternate staggered relationship to bear against the running yarn to cause it to follow a more or less sinuous course whereby to apply resistance to its draft. The tension-plates 39 and 4B are mounted on the tension-bracket I! in the manner as later described, one tensi0n-p1ate 39 being preferably fixed and the other member 40 being movable toward and away from the fixed plate to Vary the relationship of the tension-fingers and thereby control the degree of sinuosity or undulation in the course of the yarn feeding therebetween.

The tension-fingers 4| and 42 of the two tension-plates 39 and 40 are preferably stamped or shaped from the metal of the plates in concavo-convex form as indicated in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings to provide rounded surfaces for contacting with the yarn. Referring to Figs. 3, 5 and 8, the opposite ends of the fingers 4| and 42 may be further formed with rounded protuberances 45 which serve as abutments to define the course of the yarn across their convex faces and prevent it from whipping out from between the fingers. In accordance with a preferred form of construction, the outer and inner ends of the tension-fingers 4| and 42 are connected by integral strips 41 and 48 of the metal to provide a grid-like structure for each of the tension-plates 39 and 40. The outer strips 41 of the two tension-members are bent or folded at opposite angles to the plane of the plates so that when the members are in operative relationship they provide a trough or reentrant guideway for directing the yarn into place between the fingers 4| and 42 as it is drawn upwardly through the trough, see Figs. 4 and 5. Asa further means for guiding the yarn into position between the tension-plates 39 and 40, a wire guide 49 having a V-shaped or re entrant opening is fastened to the bottom of the tension-bracket IT. The fixed tension-member 39 is mounted on the rod 22 by means of ears 53 bent to project at right-angles to the plane of its plate portion, the ears being pierced with holes for receiving the rod. A screw 54, see Figs.

2, 3 and 5, is inserted through a hole in the plate portion of the member 39 and threaded into an ear or'lug 55 on the tension-bracket l1 to hold the member in fixed position.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the opposite movable tensionmember or plate 46 is carried by a pivoted supporting member or frame 60. As herein illustrated, the supporting member or hinged frame- 68 comprises a vertical plate portion 6i having its upper and lower ends bent at right angles to provide lateral projections or arms 62. The arms 62 have alining holes in which are held shouldered bushings or eyelets 63 which receive the rod 22 to mount the supporting member 60 for pivotal movement thereon. As shown in Fig. 3, the eyelets 63 have reduced portions inserted through the holes in the arms 62 with their ends riveted or headed over against the outer faces thereof. The eyelets 63 abut the upper and lower'facesof the ears 53 on the fixed tension-plate 39 to maintain the supporting member or frame 68- in position on the rod. The upper and lower arms 62 of the frame 60 are of generally triangular shape in plan view, as shown most clearly in Figs. '4, 5 and 8, and each arm is provided with a rolled forward edge or curved lip ,65, Projecting forwardly from each arm 62 of the member 68 is an offset extension 66 provided at its end with a laterally-extending strip which is bent at right-angles to the extension to form a finger 61 and then folded upon itself in V-shaped formation as indicated at 68. The lip 65 and finger 61 serve as abutments against which the yarn is adapted to bear to restrict its sliding movement longitudinally of the tension-fingers 4| and 42. .That is to say, the lip 65 and finger 61 serve as guards to prevent the yarn from getting out of position with respect to the tension-fingers 4| and 42 when the tension-members 39 and 48 are in spaced-apart relationship. When the movable member 40 is moved back to extreme position, as shown in Fig. 8, the finger 61 is withdrawn to permitrthe entrance of the strand between the tension-plates.

Substantially midway of their length the extensions 66 of the arms 62 on the frame 66 are perforated to receive the reduced ends of a vertical rod 18 which serves to pivotally mount the movable tension-member 40 on the supporting member or frame 60 in the manner as later explained. As shown in Fig. 3, the rod 18 is headed or riveted over at its upper and lower ends to hold wardly to act against the wing H to swing the frame 68 to carry the tension-member 40 toward the fixed tension-member 39. The plunger 12 serves merely to move the tension-plate 48 into cooperative relationship with respect to the member 39 to automatically close the device after it has been manually opened. For the purpose of limiting the outward sliding movement of the plunger E2 to provide an initial clearance between its end and the wing I l a nut 11 screwed onto the inner threaded end of the plunger is adapted to engage the end of the lug 14; a locknut 18 being set up against the nut 11 to hold the latter in its adjusted position;

At the top and bottom of the movable tensionplate 48 are horizontal arms 8| 'extending in parallel relation to the fingers or bars 42 of the plate and provided at their ends with bushings or eyelets 82. The bushings or eyelets 82 are similar to the eyelets 63, previously described, and have axial holes for receiving the vertical rod 10 whereby to pivotally mount the tension-member 40 on the supporting member or frame 60. Projecting rearwardly from the edges of the vertical marginal portions 41 and .48 of the movable tension-plate 40 adjacent the upper end thereof are cars 84, shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 8. In the cars 84 are bearing bushings or eyelets 85 of the same type as those before described. Project ing through the bores of the bushings 85 is a wire rod 81 bent into elbow-shape and extending in a link 88 which serves as the connecting means for controlling the tension-device from the winding elements of the machine. The arm 81 of the link 88 is held from axial displacement in the eyelets 85 by a loop 83, see Figs. 3 and 5, projecting from the upper end of the tension-member 40 and overlying the elbow portion of the link.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the link 88 extends substantially horizontally through a rectangular aperture 89 in the fixed tension-member 39 and a slot 90 in the side of the frame 60 with its end connected to a weighted arm or lever pivoted to the pressure lever 18, previously described. One end of the lever 95 is of inverted U-shape with the opposite sides of the U provided with alining threaded holes for receiving the forwardly-extending threaded end I4 of the link l2, previously described as constituting the connecting means between the pressure lever l0 and the counterweight 8 of the traverse-frame 6. Projecting upwardly from the lever 95 is an car 96 having a hole for receiving the hooked end 91 of the link 88. A weight 98 mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the lever 95 normally tends to swing the latter downwardly to exert a pull on the link 88 to draw the movable tension-plate 40 toward the fixed plate 39. During the operation of thewinding machine, as the pressure-regulating lever I0 is gradually rocked upwardly on its away from its fulcrum. A spring-finger 99 on the weight 98 has a V-shaped end adapted to engage in one of a series of spaced notches I00 formed in the forward face of the lever 95 to retain the weight in adjusted position.

The method of operation of the tension-device. on the winding machine is as next explained. In threading the yarn into the device the strand y is drawn upwardly from its source of supply and the operator may use the fingers in which the end of the yarn is grasped to force open the movable tension-member 48. This may be accomplished with, one motion of the hand as the strand is drawn upwardly and led across the tension-fingers 4| on the fixed tension-member 39. The movable tension-plate 40 may be held in open position during the upward movement of the hand by drawing the fingers along its inclined portion 41 and after the strand is in place the member 40 is released to permit it tobe automatically returned to position with its tension-fingers l2 pressing against the strand. Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the tension-plate 49 is moved laterally away from the plate 39 by causing the frame 69 to swing outwardly on the pivotrod 22. As the frame 80 is swung on its pivot 22 the tension-plate l9 pivots on the vertical rod 10 and is maintained in parallel relation to the fixed tension-plate 39 as it moves away therefrom by the arm 81 of the link 98. As the movable member is moved laterally in this manner the wing II on the frame 80 makes contact ,with the plunger '12 and telescopes the latter into the bore 13 against the action of the spring 16. When the tension-member 40 is released the plunger 12 acts against the wing H to swing the frame 60 back to first position to carry the tension-a plate 40 into cooperative relation with the fixed plate 39. The movement of the plunger 12 is limited by the engagement of the nut' 11 against the end of the bearing lug 14 so that finally the weighted lever 95 will act through the link 88 to press the tension-fingers 42 on the plate 40 against the yarn in the manner illustrated-in Figs. 1, 4 and 6.

The strand of yarn 1 is drawn upwardly from the tension-device through the slot in the slut:-

catcher 30, thence through the .slot in the threadguide 4 and its end attached to the cop-tube C 'on the winding-spindle 3. At the start of the winding operation the thread-guide 4 is placed against the surface of the cop-tube C with the traverse-frame 6 assuming the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. With the traverseframe 6 in this relationship the weighted lever 95 is positioned substantially horizontal and by sliding the weight 98 along the lever the device is adjusted to apply the required degree of tension on the yarn. With the usual adjustment of the device the tension-fingers 4| and 42 assume a position in substantial alinement as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 and the yarn 1 drawing between the fingers is caused to follow a tortuous course of maximum sinuosity.

As the machine is started to operate the winding-spindle 3 is rotated to wind the yarn onto the cop-tube C while it is traversed longitudinally thereof by the reciprocating thread-guide 4. As the package builds up on the spindle 3 it forces the thread-guide 9 outwardly therefrom with the traverse-frame iiv swinging on the shaft 1 as a pivot under this action. As the traverseframe 6 swings in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, it draws the link l2 toward the left and rockes the pressure-lever l in a counterclockwise direction to gradually reduce the effective force of the weight l in resisting the movement of the thread-guide 4 in its recession from the winding-spindle 9. In this manner the pressure of the thread-guide on the package is gradually relieved in proportion to the growth in the winding.

Simultaneously with the upward swinging movement of the pressure-lever in during the winding the tension-lever 95 is swung upwardly.

on the pivot M to reduce its effective force on the movable tension-plate 40. As the lever 95 is rocked upwardly in this manner it'reducesthe pressure of the movable tension-plate 40 against the yarn but does not alter the position of the plate due to the fact that the lever 95 is moved bodily to the left as the lever iii swings upwardly. The tension-plate 46 is shifted laterally by the yarn itself which tends to straighten in its course as the force exerted by the tension-lever 95 is v winding and other processes.

gradually reduced. As the movable tensionmember 40 is thus separated from the fixed member 39 the resistance offered to the passage of the yarn is diminished and thereby the applied tension is reduced in proportion to the increase in its lineal speed.

As the movable tensionmember 49 is shifted awayfrom the fixed member 39 it is maintained in parallelism therewith due to its connection with the arm 81 of the link 88, see Figs. 2'and 5. During the shifting movement of the member 40 the frame 5|! swings on the pivot-rod 22 as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple and eflicient device for applying tension to yarn, thread and other strand materials delivering to The improved tension-device operates automatically to control the relationship of the-tension-members during the winding of a package whereby to relieve the tension applied to the yarn as the lineal speed of the latter increases. 7

As a particular feature of improvement in the present invention the tension-fingers are maintained in true parallelism both horizontally and vertically throughout the winding operation. Consequently, the tension is applied to theyarn uniformly whatever-its position in relation to the relationship and the tension will vary as the yarn shifts toward or away from the pivot. In other words, the distance between the tension-fingers increases as the yarn shifts outwardly away from the pivot point and vice versa so that as the yarn plays back and forthalong the fingers it will take a greater or less tortuous course thereover and the tension applied thereto will vary accordingly. With the present device the yarn is wound under uniform tension and therefore a more perfect and properly formed package is produced without danger of excessive compression tending to bulge and break down the wound mass or prevent free delivery of the coils therefrom when the yarn is unwound from the package;

While the device is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction. it isto be understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device and in the method of applying it to use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without-limiting ourselves in this respect, we claim:

1. In a device of the type indicated, the comwith respect to the other tension-member, and

means for maintaining the tension-members in parallel relationship during their'reiative displacement.

2. A tension-device comprising a fixed gridmember having substantially parallel 'bars, a second grid-member bodily movable with respect having spaced fingers, a second member bodily.

to the fixed grid-member and having bars adapted to cooperate with those of the fixed member to press against a strand to apply tension thereto, a pivoted member for supporting the movable grid-member to adapt it to move toward and away from the fixed member, and means for maintaining the movable member in parallel relation to the fixed member during its movement with the supporting member.

3. A tension-device comprising a fixed member movable at one side of the fixed member and having similar fingers cooperating with those on the fixed member to press against a strand to apply tension thereto, a support for the movable tension-member, means for moving said support to shift the movable member toward and away from the fixed member, and means for maintaining the movable member in parallel relation to the fixed member during its movement with respect thereto.

4. A tension-device comprising a fixed tensionmember, a movable tension-member adapted to cooperate with the fixed member to press against a strand drawing therebetween, a hinged supporting member, means for pivotally mounting the movable tension-member on the supporting member to adapt it to move toward and away from the fixed tension-member, and means for maintaining the movable tension-member in parallel relation to the fixed tension-member during its movement with respect thereto.

5. In a tension-device, the combination of a fixed tension-member, a movable tension-member for cooperation with the fixed member to apply tension to a strand drawing therebetween, a hinged supporting member, means for pivotally mounting the movable tension-member on the supporting member, means for applying a force to the supporting member to cause it to move the movable tension-member toward the fixed member to apply tension to the strand, and means for maintaining the movable tension-member in parallelism with the fixed tension-member whatever its position in relation thereto.

6. In a tension-device, the combination of a fixed grid-member, a movable grid-member adapted to cooperate with the fixed member to cause a strand drawing therebetween tofollow a sinuous course, a pivotedsupporting member, means for mounting the movable grid-member on said supporting member to adapt it to move toward and away from the fixed member, means acting on the supporting member to move the movable grid-member toward the fixed member, and 'means for maintaining the movable gridmember in parallelism with the fixed member whatever its position in relation thereto.

7. In a tension-device, the combination of a fixed tension-member, a movable tension-member, means on said members for directing. a strand in a sinuous course as it feeds therebetween to apply tension thereto, a supporting member pivoted on an axis parallel to the path of the strand, means for mounting the movable tension-member on the supporting member to adapt it to pivot on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of said supporting member, means operative to swing the supporting member to move the movable tensionmember toward the fixed member, and means for maintaining the movable member in parallelism with the fixed tension-member in all positions to which it is moved.

8..-In a tension-device, the combination of a fixed tension-member, a movable tension-member adapted to cooperate with the fixed member to apply tension to a strand drawing therebetween, a swinging frame for supporting the movable member to adapt it to move toward and away from the fixed member, a rod having an angular portion connected to the movable tension-member for maintaining it in parallel relation to the fixed member, and means acting to slide the rod to cause it to move the movable tension-member toward the fixed tension-member.

9. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a fixed tension-member having spaced fingers, a second tension-member having spaced fingers cooperating with the fingers of the fixed tension-member and bodily movable toward and away from the fixed tension-member at one side thereof to vary the'tension applied to a strand drawing therebetween, means directly connected to the movable member for applying pressure thereto to adapt it to bear against the strand to i apply tension thereto as it feeds between th-e tension-members, means for relieving the pressure on the movable member to adapt it to recede from the fixed member to reduce the tension applied to the strand, and means for maintaining the mov able tension-member in parallelism with the fixed member during its movement with respect thereto. I

10. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a relatively fixed tension-member, a pivotally mounted frame, a movable tensionmember hinged to said frame, means operative to swing the frame to move the movable tensionmember toward the fixed member, and means for maintaining the movable member in parallelism with the fixed member during its movement with respect thereto.

11. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a support, a tension-member fixedly mounted on said support, a frame pivoted to the support a second. tension-member pivoted to said frame, a rod having a right-angular extension engaging the second tension-member to maintain it in parallelism with the first tensionmember, and means acting on the rod to cause the second tension-member to press against a strand drawing between the said members to apply tension thereto.

12. In combination with the winding mechanism of a winding machine, a tension-device comprising a pair of opposite tension-members for tensioning a strand drawing therebetween, a link directly connected to one of the tension- I members, pressure-means acting on the link for normally urging the tension-members against the strand, means controlled by the growth in the winding for relieving the pressure to allow the tension-members to separate to reduce the amount of tension applied to the strand, and means for positively maintaining the tensionmembers in parallelism throughout their movement of separation.

13. In combination ;'with the winding mechanism of a winding machine, a tension-device for tensioning a strand feeding to the winding mechanism comprising a fixed tension-member, a movable tension-member, a hinged member pivotally mounting the movable tension-member for movement toward and away from the fixed tension-member, pressure-means for normally urging the movable tension-member against the strand drawing between the tension-members, means controlled by the growth in the winding to relieve the pressure to allow the movable tension-member to recede from the fixed tensionmember, and positively acting means for maintaining the movable tension-member in parallel relation to the fixed tension-member during its movement with respect thereto.

14. In combination with a winding mechanism, a tension-device comprising opposed tensionmembers having spaced fingers for applying tension to a strand feeding to the winding mechanism, a hinged member for pivotally mounting one of said tension-members to adapt it for movement with respect to the other member to vary the amount of tension applied to the strand, pressure-means operative on the movable tension-member, means controlled by the growth in the winding to gradually reduce the force of said pressure-means on the 'movable tension-member, and means for maintaining the movable tensionmember constantly in parallelism with the opposed tension-member.

15. In combination with a winding mechanism, a tension-device comprising a fixed tensionmember, a second tension-member, a hinged member pivotally mounting the second tensionmember to adapt it for movement toward and away from the fixed member to vary the tension applied to the strand drawing therebetween, weighted means for normally urging the movable tension-member toward the fixed member, means controlled by the growth in the winding for diminishing the effect of the weighted means to permit the movable tension-member to be displaced with respect to the fixed member to reduce the applied tension, and means for constantly maintaining the movable tension-memher in parallel relation to the fixed tension-member.

16. In combination with a winding mechanism, a tension-device comprising a fixed tensionmember, a second tension-member movable toward and away from the fixed member, said members being provided with spaced fingers for directing the strand in a sinuous course to apply resistance to its draft, a weighted lever, a link directly connecting the lever and movable tension-member and normally acting to maintain the movable tension-member pressing against the strand, and means controlled by the growth in the winding for actuating the weighted lever to gradually diminish the pressure of the movable member against the strand, said link being so constructed and arranged as to constantly maintain the movable tension-member in parallel relation to the fixed tension-member.

17. In combination with a winding mechanism, a tension-device comprising a fixed tensionmember, a pivoted supporting member, a second tension-member pivotally mounted on the supporting member and movable thereby toward and away from the fixed tension-member, weight-operated means for normally maintainin the supporting member in position to cause the movable tension-member to cooperate with the fixed member to apply tension to a strand drawing therebetween, means controlled by the growth in the winding for reducing the force of the weight-operated means to relieve the pressure of the movable tension-member against the strand, and means for constantly maintaining the movable tension-member in parallelrelation to the fixed tension-member.

18. A tension-device comprising relatively movable tension-members adapted to cooperate to press against a strand drawing therebetween, a supporting member hingedly mounted for rocking movement about an axis parallel to the direction in which the yarn feeds, means for pivotally mounting one of the tension-members on the supporting member to adapt it to move bodily toward and away from the other tension-member, and means for maintaining the tensionmembers in parallel relationship during the relative movement thereof.

GEORGE N. TAYLQR. JOEE? MACDQE EWART. 

